Pellegrini: Rice ready for England

WEST HAM manager Manuel Pellegrini rates Declan Rice as England’s best defensive midfielder and believes he is ready to play a key part in Gareth Southgate’s side. Rice pledged his allegiance to England over the Republic of Ireland last week. Tottenham’s Eric Dier has occupied a deeplying role for England in recent times, but Pellegrini believes there is no English midfielder as good as Rice. Asked if the 20-year-old was ready to feature for England in the March games against Czech Republic and Montenegro,